Nutating disc motor



Jan. 26, 1960 J. G. RUSSELL 2,922,403

NUTATING uzsc MOTOR Filed Nov. 15, 1957 I (ma/810w z 2, 5 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN G. RUSSELL AT TORN EYS ite States Patent NUTATING DISC MUTOR JohnG. Russell, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, assignor to Thompson Products,'Inc., Cleveland, Ghio, a corporation of Ohio The present inventionrelates to improvements in motors operable by expansible fluids orgases, and more specifically to a nutating disc motor which is driven byan expansible fluid or gas.

In a preferred form, the present invention contemplates the provision ofa nutating disc having a motor chamber for containing expansible gases,and a nutating disc mounted therein for wobbling or rotating about itsaxis when driven by expansible fluid. The shaft projects from the discin a direction eccentric from the axis of rotation of the disc and iseccentrically connected to drive a power shaft rotatable coaxially withthe disc. Expansible gas is directed to the motor chamber throughpassageways leading to the chamber above and below the disc, and thechamber is separated by a partition having a high pressure side and alow pressure side. Inlet passageways lead to a high pressure zone on thehigh pressure side, and exhaust passageways lead from both sides of thedisc from the chamber from a low pressure zone on the low pressure sideof the partition. Pressurized expansible fluid is supplied alternatelyto the two inlet passageways by a control valve driven by the powershaft and having a variable closure time whereby the supply of fluid isadmitted for a controlled time, and thereafter cut off so that theexpansible fluid will have an adiabatic expansion to complete therotation of the disc and will thereafter flow out through the exhaustpassageway. Pressurized fluid to drive the disc is delivered through thecontrol valve having a stationery shell and a rotor secured to rotatewith the power shaft. As the power shaft rotates, the valve portssupplying the alternate inlet passageways to the motor are alternatelyopened to rotate the disc. The length of time that each of the valveports is opened is controlled by a variable porting slide, and when thevalve port is closed, the fluid in the motor chamber will expandadiabatically to complete the rotation of the nutating disc.

The disc is arranged within its chamber to rotate in either directionwithout the leakage of pressure, and a reversing valve is provided forreversing the direction of rotation of the motor.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of animproved motor operable by an expansible fluid, and utilizing theprinciple of a nutating disc.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved nutatingdisc motor employing adiabatic expansion of an expansible fluid foroperating the motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved controlvalve arrangement for regulating the flow of expansible operating fluidto a motor employing a motor chamber with a nutating disc therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved fluidflow control for a nutating disc motor wherein a variable cut-off timefor the fluid delivery is obtained to thereby vary the adiabaticexpansion of the gases or fluids operating the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im- 2,922,403 PatentedJan. 26, 1960 proved nutating disc motor which can be readily reversedin direction of rotation. V

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved motoremploying the nutating disc principle which is operable by various typesof expansible fluids or gases directly supplied to the motor or derivedfrom mechanisms which produce expansible gases or fluids as a byproduct.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent in connectionwith the teachings of the principles of the invention in connection withthe disclosure of the preferred embodiments, thereof, in thespecification, claiinsand drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a motor constructionembodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line IIII of Figure1, and illustrating the internal construction of the fluid flow controlvalve for the motor;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of an alternate control valveconstruction;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a form of the motor wherein themotor may be reversed; and,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the disc assembly of the motor.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the nutating disc motorembodying the principles of the present invention includes a motorhousing 10 with a motor chamber 12 therein. Within the chamber there islocated a flat round nutating disc 14 which is located for nutatingmotion within the chamber 12.

The motor chamber 12 is circular in shape and has a lower surface 16which projects into the chamber in a conical shape and a similar uppersurface 18, with the surfaces 16 and 18 forming the surfaces which matewith the upper and lower surfaces of the nutating disc 14, in order toobtain a nutating motion of the disc with the adiabatic expansion of theexpansible operating fluid or gases for the motor. p

The disc is guided in its motion by a centrally located disc supportingsphere 20. The disc has a central opening 24, in which the sphere issecured, Fig. 5. The sphere is supported to thereby support the disc inmating spherical sockets in the lower and upper surfaces 16 and 18, Fig.1.

At one side of the motor chamber 12 and extending radially from thecenter thereof to the outer surface 26 of the chamber 12, is a partition28. The partition 28 has a high pressure side 30 and an opposing lowpressure side 32. The high pressure side 30 faces a high pressure zonewithin the pump chamber, and the low pressure side, 32 faces a lowpressure zone.

For supplying pressurized expansible fluid or gas to the'chamber at thehigh pressure zone, a first expansible fluid supply inlet passageway 34is provided above the disc. A second inletpassageway 36 is providedbelow the disc for the inlet of expansible fluid, and the inlets 34 and36 communicate with the motor chamber 12 on opposite sides of the disc14. In operation of the disc, expansible fluid or gas under pressure isdirected on one side of the disc into one of the inlet passageways, suchas through passageway 34, for a predetermined portion of the cycle ofrotation of the disc 14, and the gas is then permitted toexpand for. theremainder of thecycle with an adiabatic expansion. When degrees ofrotation of the nutating disc has been completed, gasis admitted intothe opposing passageway 36 for a predetermined portion of the cycle, andthis amount'of gas is permitted to expand adiabatically for thecompletion of the cycle. L

A typical admission of gas may be of from 10 de grees to 45 degrees ofrotation of the disc, or 90 degrees past minimum volume position.

The nutating disc motor is adapted .to receive various types of gases orfluids such as air, nitrogen, products of .combustion such as receivedfrom a jet engine, steam orspecial products of chemical action, such ashydrazine, ethylene oxide, etc. V I The disc rotates with adiabaticexpansion of gas, and the expanding gas is vented from the pump chamber12. For this purpose, the upper surface of the disc 14 is vented throughan exhaust passageway 38, and the lower surface of the disc 14 is ventedthrough an exhaust passageway 40. These exhaust passageways are alwaysopen so that the gas may freely escape when the disc is in a position todischarge the gas through them.

The upper and lower sides of the nutating disc 14 are separated on thepressure side of the partition 28 by a sliding vane 42, which is locatedin a deep groove which extends parallel to the disc from the edge of aslot 44 in the disc, permitting the disc to slide on the partition 28.At the base of the groove holding the vane 42 is a compression spring 46which urges the vane tightly against the partition to prevent the escapeof .gas from oneside of the disc to the other side with the pressuredifferential that occurs.

Control of gas for rotation of the disc 14 is obtained from a valveassembly 47 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

While the movement of the nutating disc 14 is herein referred to asrotation for purposes of explanation, it will be understood that a truerotation or rotation about an axis is not achieved, but instead the discmoves in a nutating movement. To transform this movement into rotation,a crank pin 48 is provided which is connected at the axial center of thenutating disc and extends coaxial therewith so as to rotate in a conicalpath with the nutating movement of the disc 14. This moves the upper endof the rotating crank pin about the axis of a power shaft 50. The freeend of the rotating shaft 48 is connected to an offset crank end 51 ofthe power shaft 50, and as it rotates, the power shaft is driven. inrotation in order that power may be received from the motor.

The power shaft 50 is utilized to drive the control valve 46. It will beunderstood that the valve may be in various positions with respect tothe shaft, and as shown in its preferred form is coaxial therewith anddirectly driven.

The valve has an outer shell 52 provided with outlet ports 54 and 56.Expansible gas flows through the outlet ports and is controlled by arotating core 58 of the valve which is secured to the power shaft 50.

The core is provided with an annular passageway 59 which is suppliedwith pressurized gas through a sup ply line 61. The pressurized gasflows into the annular passageway 59, and flows out of the valve corewhen V are held open.

f The length of time that the gas will flow through either A of theoutlet ports, or in other words, the cutofi period for the flow of gas,is controlled by variable porting covers 65 and 67.

The covers 65 and 67 are corotatable and slide to cover a part of theoutlet ports 54 and 56 in the valve shell 52 to thereby control thecut-ofi time at which time the port is closed. Thus, the position of thecovers 65 and 67 will determine the amount of expansible gas fed to themotor.

An alternate form of valveis shown in Figure 3, wherein the power shaft50 carries a cam 64. The cam 64 controls valves 72 and 74. The cam isdivided into two sections 66 and 68 which are rotatably slidablerelative to each other for adjustment, but which are carried on thepower shaft. For adjusting the position of the cams 66 and 68, aclamping bolt 70 may be provided which is loosened for sliding the camsrelative to each other, and which for this purpose, may pass through aAs illustrated in the drawings, the valve 72 connects to the passageway34 communicating with the pump chamber above the disc 14 and the valve74 connects to the passageway 36 communicating with the pump chamberbelow the disc 14. The valves are similarly constructed and, therefore,only valve 74 need be described in detail.

Valve 74 is illustrated as having an upper block 76 and a lower block 78clamped together to form a valve chamber 80 therebetween. Within thevalve chamber a poppet valve 82 is reciprocated and is shown in the openposition, as lifted by the cam 64. A spring 84 urges the valve towardclosed position. When the valve is open, gas is permitted to flowthrough a supply passageway 86 for the valve and will flow down into theinlet passageway 36 for the motor. The valves 72 and 74 are alternatelyopened and closed to cause rotation of the nutating disc 14.

Figure 4 illustrates a form of the motor in which the direction ofrotation of the disc can be reversed. The motor includes the housing 10with the motor cham ber 12 therein. A nutating disc 88 is secured andmounted for movement on the splined supporting sphere 22, at the centerof the motor chamber 12. The partition 28 is provided to separate thehigh pressure and low pressure zones within the pump chamber.

Nutating disc 88 carries a first spring loaded vane 99 which is locatedin a groove 92 on one side of the radial slot 94 in the disc to permitthe disc 88 to move relative to the partition 28. A compression spring95 urges the vane against the partition 28. On the other side of thepartition, is carried a similar vane 96 located in a groove 98 in thedisc on the other side of the radial slot 94. This groove also carries acompression spring 100 to 'urge the vane 96 against the partition.

Thus, the nutating disc 88 has its upper side sealed from its lower sideon both sides of the partition 28, so that either side may be the highpressure zone, and gas will not flow from the upper side of the disc tothe lower side, or from the lower to the upper side.

Passage'ways are provided leading into the motor cham her and thesepassageways are interchangeable so as to be either exhaust passagewaysor inlet passageways. This interchangeability is controlled by reversingvalve 102, shown in Figure 4. 2

On the lower side of the motor housing 10, passageways 104 and- 106 leadinto the motor chamber 88. On the upper side passageways 108 and 110lead into the chamber 12. Each of these passageways leads to a lineconnecting to the valve 102 which is provided with an exhaust'outlet 112, and with pressure supply lines 114 and 116. The lines 114 and 116connect to a control valve, such as the valve 46 in Figures 1 and 2, orthe valves 72 and 74 in Figure 3. In one setting of the reversing valve102, the passageways 108 and 104 on one side of the partition 28, arethe inlet passageways, and the passageways 106 and-110 on the other sideof the partition 28 are the exhaust passageways. When the reversingvalve 102 .is set to its other position, flow through the valve is suchthat passageways 186 and 12.9 become the inlet passageways, andpassageways 164 and 108 become the exhaust passageways. This, of course,will cause the nutating disc 88 to reverse in its direction of movement,thereby reversing the direction of rota tion of the power shaft 50.

In operation of the motor, such as shown in Figure l, pressurizedexpansible gas is admitted to the motor chamber 12 on the pressure side30 of the partition 28, and

the exhaust passageways 38 and 40;

As rotational movement of the nutating disc 14 continues, the crank pin48 drives the power shaft 50 to provide the power for the motor. Theshaft 50 also drives the moving part of a rotary valve 46 to alternatelyadmit expanding gas to the motor in synchronism with rotation of thedisc 14. The porting time, or length of time gas is admitted to themotor, is variably controlled by rotating valve port covers 65 and 67which'determine the cut-off time for the flow of gas.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided an improved motor driven byexpansible fluid or gas employing a nutating disc and obtaining theobjectives and advantages hereinbefore set forth. It will be noted thatpower is obtained from the gas through adiabatic expansion during whichtime the nutating disc is driven, and power is taken therefrom.

The output of the motor is simply and readily controlled through a valvearrangement which isdriven in synchronism with the motor to controlthesupply of gas to the opposing sides of the nutating disc. This valvecontrol may take various forms, and completes a motor combination whichis eifective and can be operated on various types of expansibleproducts, and is'useful in many environments.

I have, in the drawings and specification, presented a detaileddisclosure of the preferred embodiments of my invention, and it is to beunderstood that I do not intend to limit the invention to the specificforms disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications, changes andalternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of theprinciples taught by my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A motor adapted to be driven by an expansible fluid comprising incombination a nutating disc, a motor chamber surrounding the disccontaining expansible fluid, a first and second fluid inlet passagewayleading into said motor chamber above and below the disc'respectively, afirst and second exhaust passageway leading into said chamber above andbelow the disc respectively, an axially extending partition positionedacross the chamber and extending through the disc to divide the chamberinto a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone with the high pressurezone located at the position of the intake passageways and the lowpressure zone located at the position of the exhaust passageways, meansfor supporting the disc within the chamber for nutating movement, arotating crank pin connected to the disc, a power shaft coaxiallylocated with respect to the disc and eccentrically connected to thecrank pin to receive driving rotation therefrom, a rotary valve havingan outer ported shell with first and second discharge ports connected tosaid first and second inlet passageways and having a rotating corecoaxial with and driven by said power shaft, ports in said core adaptedto be aligned with the ports in the valve shell, a passageway throughsaid valve core communicating with the ports of the rotor and directingpressurized fluid thereto whereby fluid will be admitted to said firstand second passageways as the valve rotates, and rotary covers for saidrotary ports adjustably related to the rotating core whereby the pointat which said ports close can be adjusted to determine the amount offluid delivered to said motor chamber and the fluid will expandadiabatically for the remainder of the rotation of the disc.

2. A motor adapted tobe driven by an expansible fluid comprising incombination a nutating disc, a motor chamber surrounding the disccontaining expansible fluid, a first and second fluid inlet passagewayleading into said motor chamber above and below the disc respectively, afirst and second exhaust passageway leading into said chamber above andbelowthe disc respectively, an axially extending partition positionedacross the chamber and extending through the disc to divide the chamberinto a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone with the high pressurezone located at the position of the intake passageways and the lowpressure zone located at the position of the exhaust passageways, meansfor supporting the disc within the chamber for nutating movement, arotating crank pin connected to the disc, a power shaft coaxiallylocated with respect to the disc and eccentrically connected to thecrank pin to receive driving rotation therefrom, a valve having fluiddischarge ports connected to said first and second fluid passagewaysleading to the motor chamber, an inlet for said valve directingpressurized fluid through said valve discharge ports when the valve isopen with said valve alternately directing fluid to said ports tooperate the disc, means connected to said power shaft for driving thevalve whereby the valve is driven in synchronism with the disc, andmeans for controlling the period of time that said valve ports are openwhereby the amount of expansible fluid de livered to the chamber iscontrolled with the disc being driven by adiabatic expansion of thefluid after the flow of fluid is terminated.

3. A motor driven by an expansible fluid comprising a motor chamber forcontaining driving fluid during expansion, a nutating disc locatedwithin said chamber to be driven by expanding fluid, a driving meansconnected to said disc whereby movement thereof is transmitted intopower, a divider in said chamber separating the chamber into a highpressure zone and a low pressure zone, a fluid inlet passagewayconnected to said chamber communicating with said high pressure zone, afluid exhaust passageway connected to said chamber communicating withsaid low pressure zone, valve means controllingthe flow of fluid intosaid inlet passageway whereby thelfluid will cause movement of saiddisc, and a valve control connected to said driving means to be drivenin'synchronism with the movement of the disc and opening and closing thevalve to supply fluid to the chamber at predetermined positions of thedisc.

4. A motor driven by an expansible fluid comprising a motor chamber forcontaining driving fluid during expansion, a nutating disc locatedwithin said chamber to be driven by expanding fluid, a rotary shaftconnected to be driven by the disc in its movement, a divider in saidchamber separating the chamber into a high pressure zone and a lowpressure zone, a fluid inlet passageway connected to said chambercommunicating with said high pressure zone, a fluid exhaust passagewayconnected to said chamber communicating with said low pressure zone, anda rotary valve having a stationary port and a retating port with anoutlet port connected to supply fluid to said fluid inlet passageway,said rotary port coaxial with and connected to said rotary shaft wherebythe valve operates at the speed'of the disc to supply fluid thereto atthe appropriate time.

5. In combination, a nutating disc adapted to be driven by an expandingfluid, achamber shaped to contain the disc and permitexpansion of thefluid to drive the disc, a divider in said chamber extending throughsaid disc and permitting relative movement thereof and having a lowpressure side facing a low pressure zone in the chamber and a highpressure side facing a high pressure zone in the chamber, a pair offluid inlet passageways communicating with the high pressure zone in thechamber-with said passageways opening on opposite sides of the disc,

. a pair of fluid exhaust passageways communicating with the lowpressure zone in the chamber with the passageways opening on oppositesides of said disc, valve means controlling the flow of fluid into saidinlet passageways whereby the fluid will cause movement of said disc,and means connected to said valve means and operatively connected tosaid disc to open and close said valve means in timed relationship tomovement of said disc for driving the disc by the flow of fluid throughsaid inlet passageways.

6. A motor driven by an expansible fluid comprising a nutating discadapted to be driven by an expanding fluid, a chamber shaped to containthe disc and permit expansion of the fluid to drive the disc, a dividerin said chamber extending through said disc and permitting relativemovement thereof and having a low pressure side facing a low pressurezone in the chamber and a high pressure side facing a high pressure zonein the chamber, a fluid inlet passageway connected .to said chambercommunicating with said high pressure zone, a fluid exhaust passagewayconnected to said chamber communicating with said low pressure zone,valve means controlling the fluid flow into said inlet passagewaywhereby the fluid will cause movement of said disc in a rotationalnutating movement, and means for adjusting the time said valve is openrelative to the movement of the disc whereby a charge of fluid will beadmitted to the chamber and the valve closed before the disc has hadfull rotational movement and the remaining movement is obtained from theexpansion of the fluid. i

7. A motor driven by an'expansible fluid comprising a nutating discadapted to be driven by an expanding fluid, a chamber shaped to containthe disc and permit expansion of the fluid to drive the disc, a dividerin said chamber extending through said disc and permitting relativemovement thereof and having a low pressure side facing a low pressurezone in the chamber and a high pressure side facing a high pressure zonein the chamber, a fluid inlet passageway connected to said chamber communicating with said high pressure zone, a fluid exhaust passagewayconnected to said chamber communicating with said low pressure zone,valve means controlling the flow of fluid into said inlet passagewaywhereby the fluid will cause movement of said disc, a valve controlconnected to said driving means to be driven in synchronism with themovement of the disc and opening and closing the valve to supply fluidto the chamber at predetermined positions of the disc, and means forvarying the period the valve is open relative to rotation of the discwhereby fluid is delivered to the chamber for a variable open period andwill expand to drive the disc for a closed period.

8. A fluid expansion motor comprising in combination, a motor chamberadapted to receive an expansible fluid, a nutating disc mounted forrotation within the chamber to be driven by the fluid, a dividerextending across the chamber and the discto separate the chamber into azone or low pressure and a zone of higher pressure, a fluid supplypassageway communicating with the zone of higher pressure and an exhaustpassageway leading from said zone of lower pressure, and means forsupplying pressurized fluid to said supply passageway for only-a portionof the rotation of the disc and thereafter terminating the supply offluid whereby the fluid may adiabatically expand to transmit its powerto the rotating disc. i i i 9. The method of operating a nutating discmotor having a chamber with a disc therein and intake and dischargepassageways which comprises first delivering pressurized expansiblefluid to the intake passageway for only a portion of movement of thedisc, and thereafter terminating the supply of fluid and permitting thefluid to expand and move the disc through the expansion period.

the exhaust passageway during movement of'the disc.

11. In combination, a nutating disc adapted to be driven by an expandingfluid, a chamber shaped to contain the disc and permit expansion of thefluid to drive the disc, a divider in said chamber extending throughsaid disc and permitting relative movement thereof and having'a lowpressure'side facing a low pressure zone in the chamber and a highpressure side facing a high pressure zone in the chamber, a pair offluid inlet passageways communicating with the high pressure zone in thechamber with said passageways opening on opposite sides of the disc,fluid exhaust passageways means leading from the low pressure zone toconduct exhaust fluid from the chamber, valve means controlling the flowof fluid into said inlet passageways whereby the fluid will causemovement of said disc, and means connected to said valve means andoperatively connected to said disc to open and close said valve means intimed relationship to movement of said disc for driving the, disc by theflow of fluid through said inlet passageways;

12. A motor driven by an expansible fluid comprising a motor chamber forcontaining. driving fluid during expansion, a disc located within saidchamber to be driven by expanding fluid, a divider in said chamberseparating the chamber into a high pressure zone and a low pressureZone, a fluid inlet passageway connected to said chamber communicatingwith said high pressure zone, a fluid exhaust passageway connected tosaid chamber communicating with said low pressure zone, a valve meanscontrolling the flow of fluid into said inlet passageway whereby thefluid will cause movement of said disc, and valve operating means foralternately opening and closing the valve in timed relationship to themovement of the disc whereby a controlled amount of driving fluid willbe delivered to the motor. I

13. A motor driven by an expansible fluid comprising a motor chamber forcontaining driving fluid during expansion, a nutating disc locatedwithin said chamber to be driven by expanding fluid, a divider in saidchamber separating thechamber into a high pressure zone and a lowpressure zone, a fluid inlet passageway connected to said chambercommunicating with said high pressure zone, a fluid exhaust passagewayconnected to said chamber communicating with said low pressure zone,metering means connected to deliver metered quantities of driving fluidto said inlet passageway for driving the disc, and means forintermittently operating said metering means in relation to the movingposition of the disc so' that the disc will be driven by the expandingfluid.

References Cited in the file of this patent V STATES PATENTS 658,758Burson et a1. Oct. 2, 1900 851,860 Brice Apr. 30, 1907 2,112,19 Hoburget al. Mar. 22, 1938 2,240,573 Pro bst s May 6, 1941 2,253,306 ProbstAug. 19, 1941 2,616,399 7 Kohout Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION r Patent No. 2,9,32,403 January 26,1960 John G, Russell It is hereby certified that error appears in theabove numbered patent requiring correction and that the said LettersPatent should read as corrected below.

In the grant, line 2, for "Thompson Products, Inc., of Cleveland, Ohio,"read Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc., line 12, for "Thompson Product'sInc. read Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc. in the heading to the printedspeci fication, line 4, for "Thompson Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio,"read Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of June 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL AXLINE I ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting Officer Comnissioner of Patents

